The new Honda City

It would have been like most Mondays in Metro Manila. I spent the day at the office; I had to go through the usual traffic congestion in the city…but the Monday of May 22 was highlighted by an evening spent with Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) in City of Dreams, Parañaque.

Before the program started, members of the motoring media were introduced to Noriyuki Takakura, HCPI’s new President and General Manager. Takakura-san is immediately noticeable. He has the bearing of a sophisticated and accomplished executive, yet he is friendly and youthful.

It was perhaps fitting that Mr. Takakura’s first formal public appearance was to unveil the new Honda City—a car who bears the same characteristics of combining a stately bearing with a youthful twist. 

The new Honda City revolves around the concept of “Advanced Energetic Smart Star.”  It dons a sporty and sharp exterior complemented by high-tech features that include environment-friendly and fuel efficiency systems. 

The hood flows smoothly down to a sleek front grille that bears the recognizable Honda logo. Slim, elongated LED headlights add to the City’s sporty look. The side doors are contoured by a slightly raised surface—adding to the wide stance, which gives the new City a stately appearance. 

While the appearance of the new City was completely revamped, it is powered by the same 1.5-liter i-VTEC SOHC 4-cylinder engine. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission (for the base E variant) or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Earth Dreams Technology for a dynamic and fuel-efficient driving performance. Adding to the new City’s fuel-efficiency is Honda’s Eco Assist System which, features the ECON button and eco-coaching ambient meter to promote smart and fuel efficient driving.

There are several features which make the City’s VX and VX+ variants sportier. The VX and VX+ are equipped with paddle shifters for a sportier driving experience, while its diamond-cut aluminum alloy wheels are slightly larger at 16-inches (compared to 15-inches for the E CVT). The VX and VX+ variants are also equipped with cruise control to maintain a steady driving speed set by the driver. Not too many cars in the City’s catregory have this feature.

Inside, the new City is lined by metallic panels and features a new 7-inch touchscreen audio system. The VX and VX+ variants are equipped with a navigation system, with the VX+ having leather seats. 

The new City comes in six colors, including a new shade of “Lunar Silver Metallic” which was on display during HCPI’s City of Dreams unveiling, along with the Ruby Red Pearl (available for the VX, E CVT only). 

Among other things, the new City’s price point makes it an attractive choice. While the new City is equipped with a slew of new features, it retains the suggested retail prices of its predecessors (1.5 E MT: P764,000; 1.5 E CVT: P804,000; 1.5 VX Navi CVT: P913,000; 1.5 VX+ Navi CVT: P1,003,000).